The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-17
In the House,

In the House to-day Mr. Russell, of Clarke,
moved to reconsider the action of the House
on indefinitely postponng the bill to amend
the charter of the Marietta and North
Georgia railroad. Mr.. Russell hoped the
House would reconsider its action When we
give it out to the people of Georgia it goes
out of the State that the Legislature is com
mitted TO monopoly as a policy and is OPP
posed to railroad building simply because a
road comes in contact with the State road
we may not hope for any influx of capital
from other parts of the Union.
Mr.. Lunsden, of White, hoped the
measure would be reconsidered in Justice to
the people of North Georgia.
Mr.. Atkinson, of COweta, was tired of the
House being bothered with this bill, for
three times has this House said it is opposed
to this measure, and yet with brazen eff
frontery we are again asked to take it up.
The principal advocates of the bill We're
lot of Boston capitalists and the railway of
Atlanta He could tell the people that the
freight rates would be lowered from Mari
eta to Atlanta regardless of this Il was
the policy of the State when the Marietta
and North Georgia railway was chartered
to make it a feeder to the Western and At
lantic, and not to bring it into competition
with it.
Mr. Howell, of Fulton-Is it the owners
of the Marietta and North Georgia railroad
who come here to advocate this measure, or
is it the people of North Georgia who desire
it!
Mr. Atkinson-Ill tell YOU who tbs. 1t
is Atlanta that asks it. When the bill came
up before the committee l defied the advo-
Gates of the bill 10 bring a representative
from the section TO be affected who wanted
the measuret to pass, and they couldn't do it,
no, sir-it is Atlanta who can, and no one
else.
Mr. Smith, of Glynn-You say it was the
understanding that this road should be a
feeder to the Western and Atlantic rail
road. Show me any such agreement in
the act organizing the road
Mr. AtRinson-I refer the gentleman to
the acts of 1870. The capitalists who now
own the road had taken it out
Of the hands of the original owners.
and when trey purchased it they
knew that the st ate had granted the char
ter with view of making it a feeder to
the Western and Atlantic railroad Be not
deceived by the newspapers. | well re-
member when they were almost a unit for
modifying the Railroad Commissions pow
ers. They had led many noble men into
the opposition to the commission, but no
sooAer had this been accomplished than the
master deserted them.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
History sometimes repeats itself, and in
this case it may come true. Let us not TAX
the voice OF the newspapers in this matter
He had heard that the voice of 1.-THE people
was the voice of God" but never yet that
sthe voice of newspapers was 1.-THE voice
of God Beware of the voice of the news
papers, for if you follow them you will do
wrong to the State wrong to the people and
wrong to yourself.
Mr.. Way, of Liberty, wanted to 20 on
record now and forever as being in favor of
this bill The cause of the opponents was
II hat thAxr Al.
members. He denied that the extension of
this road would injure the Western and
Atlantic railroad. The East Tennessee,
Virginia ard Georgia railroad was the road
that would be seriously hurt.
Mr.. Clay, of Cobb, rose and said that the
House would bear him out that he had Occur
pied but little of the time of the House
Hence he had not made any speech in favor
of the bill, but said that the gentleman
from Barlow may know my views, | will
now give them. favor the substitute. but
would not vote for the original bill / be-
heve the Marietta and North Georgia rail
road is coming to Atlanta II il fails to
come by legislative charter, it will still
come. The substitute provides for the road
to be constructed aud operated through the
central portion of Marietta, and prevents
the road from coming TO Atlanta on the
track OF the Western and Atlantic railroad
either by contract or otherwise The
friends OF the measure have resolved the
substitute, and. believing that this suhst-
tute will serve the interest
of those | represent, support
the substitute. In doing so the future will
demonstrate that am right understand
that the road has made arrangements 20
come to Atlanta regardless of this charter,
and see in this substitute ample pro,ec-
ton to those that ] represent believe the
Legislature should deal with this question
just as if an individual owned the State
road. Railroads are built for the interest
of the people The more railroads YOU
have, the more competition you have, the
cheaper are freight rates. and you thus
benefit the peopien
Mr.. Harrell. Of Webster. opposed the mo-
tion 70 reconsider. The people Of Georgia
were the stockholders Of the State road. IL
was their property which was to be affected.
The question was one purely financial. He
believed when the members thought of the
inatter they would agree with him. IL was
a nlatter " dollar and cents
Mr. Smith, Of Gym. favored reconsider
alton. What Is the bsst question IN regard
10 finances, "a exclude foreign capital be-
cause II Will come IN contact with The State
or 10 let II In % develop new section
Mr., Glenn ~ Whitfield, said the people
u Northeast Deorgia were not consulted
about ibis matter Nob1dy wns conaltei
bot tbe directors " tho Marietta AID North
esorRia railroad aud The Representative
from Fulton.